Hockey: Watts lights up Blues’ glory bid

ANDY WATTS blasted a hat-trick as Reading edged closer to the Slazenger England League title.

Blues now require just seven points from their four remaining games. Three of them are away from home and they have yet to lose on their travels this season.

Next up on Saturday are Canterbury, the side firmly rooted at the foot of the table with only two wins to their credit.

Yet, as they battle for survival, they may give Reading a tougher match than Surbiton did last Sunday.

The Surrey side have been torn apart by five international call-ups and, unlike Reading, they don't have strength in depth.

To add to their problems, they were missing former England skipper Brett Garrard, who was forced to pull out of the Reading game through illness and it left them with just a 14-man squad.

As a result, they were totally outclassed by a Blues side who played with confidence, power and pace.

Such was Reading’s dominance in the first half, that keeper Nick Brothers was nothing more than a spectator.

Blues led from the 10th minute when good work down their right flank by Nick Catlin created the chance for Warren D’Souza to score from a central position just inside the circle.

And Watts was similarly placed when he cracked home the first of his three goals in the 21st minute following good work by Iain Mackay.

Two minutes later D’Souza shot wide when it looked easier to score.

Brothers was called into serious action for the first time eight minutes into the second half following a Surbiton short corner.

Blues were not able to boss the game as much as they had the opening 35 minutes and it wasn't until just before the hour mark when a well-worked penalty corner routine led to Watts firing past keeper Duncan Holmes.

Four minutes later it was 4-0 with Simon Pinks netting his first goal for the club.

A rare attack by Surbiton led to defender Andrew Sheridan cracking a tremendous shot high past Brothers for a consolation goal in the 64th minute.

Three minutes from time the visitors’ defence got themselves into a mess, conceded a penalty stroke, and up stepped Watts to complete his hat-trick. It took his season’s tally to 14 goals, making him the joint third top scorer in the division.

Watts can surely look forward to getting more scoring opportunities at Canterbury on Saturday when there is a rare push-back time of 6pm.